CBTE – Certified Broadcast Television Engineer |
SBE CBTE Certification Exam Study Guide & Exam
Prep 2026/2027 | Society of Broadcast Engineers,
Broadcast Television Engineering, TV RF Systems,
FCC Regulations, Television Theory, Digital
Television, RF Transmission, Video & Audio
Systems, Satellite & Microwave, Broadcast
Operations, Safety, Troubleshooting, Networking,
Practice Questions & Detailed Explanations
Question 1: What is the serial bit rate of standard-definition SDI as defined by
SMPTE 259M for 525/625-line component digital video?
A. 143 Mbps
B. 270 Mbps
C. 360 Mbps
D. 1.485 Gbps
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 270 Mbps
Rationale: SMPTE 259M defines the SD-SDI interface, and the most common rate
(Level C) for 4:2:2 component digital video (480i/576i) is 270 Mbps. This carries 10-bit
multiplexed Y/Cb/Cr samples over a 75-ohm coaxial cable with a BNC connector. The
143 Mbps rate is the composite NTSC variant .
Question 2: Which SMPTE standard defines the HD-SDI interface operating at
a nominal 1.485 Gbps?
A. SMPTE 259M
B. SMPTE 292M
C. SMPTE 424M
D. SMPTE 2022
CORRECT ANSWER: B. SMPTE 292M
Rationale: SMPTE 292M defines HD-SDI at 1.485 Gbps (and 1.485/1.001 Gbps for
NTSC-related 59.94/29.97/23.98 Hz frame rates). It carries 720p and 1080i HD signals
over a single coaxial link .
Question 3: What is the serial bit rate of 3G-SDI as defined by SMPTE 424M?
A. 1.485 Gbps
B. 5.940 Gbps
C. 2.970 Gbps
D. 11.88 Gbps
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2.970 Gbps
,Rationale: SMPTE 424M (3G-SDI) operates at 2.970 Gbps, exactly double the HD-SDI
rate, and can carry 1080p60 over a single link. 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI extend to 5.94 and
11.88 Gbps for 4K/UHD .
Question 4: In the standard 4:2:2 component digital sampling structure, what
is the relationship between luminance and chrominance sampling?
A. Chroma is sampled at the same rate as luma
B. Chroma is not sampled at all
C. Chroma is sampled at one quarter the rate of luma
D. Chroma is sampled at half the horizontal rate of luma
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Chroma is sampled at half the horizontal rate of luma
Rationale: In 4:2:2 sampling, the two color-difference (chroma) channels Cb and Cr are
each sampled at half the horizontal frequency of the luminance (Y) channel, while
having full vertical resolution. For SD this means Y at 13.5 MHz and each chroma
channel at 6.75 MHz .
Question 5: What is the luminance sampling frequency used for standard-
definition component digital video per ITU-R BT.601?
A. 13.5 MHz
B. 6.75 MHz
C. 3.58 MHz
D. 27 MHz
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 13.5 MHz
Rationale: ITU-R BT.601 specifies a luminance sampling frequency of 13.5 MHz for SD
component digital video, common to both 525-line and 625-line systems. Each chroma
channel is sampled at half this rate, 6.75 MHz .
Question 6: What is the active picture resolution of the 1080i HD format?
A. 1280 x 720
B. 1920 x 1080
C. 1440 x 1080
D. 2048 x 1080
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1920 x 1080
Rationale: The 1080i HD format has an active picture resolution of 1920 samples per
line and 1080 active lines. While 1280 x 720 is 720p and 2048 x 1080 is 2K DCI, 1920 x
1080 is the standard for broadcast HD .
Question 7: Which component is responsible for converting baseband video to
RF for transmission in a broadcast television system?
A. Modulator
B. Mixer
,C. RF Upconverter
D. Demodulator
CORRECT ANSWER: C. RF Upconverter
Rationale: An RF upconverter takes baseband video and modulates it onto a carrier
frequency for over-the-air transmission. This is a critical component in the transmitter
chain .
Question 8: What is the standard aspect ratio for high-definition television
(HDTV)?
A. 4:3
B. 1:1
C. 16:9
D. 21:9
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 16:9
Rationale: HDTV uses a 16:9 aspect ratio to provide a widescreen viewing experience,
which is a defining characteristic of high-definition formats .
Question 9: Which connector type is most commonly used for professional SDI
video connections?
A. BNC
B. RCA
C. BNC 75-ohm
D. XLR
CORRECT ANSWER: C. BNC 75-ohm
Rationale: 75-ohm BNC connectors are the standard for SDI video signals due to their
impedance matching and reliability, ensuring minimal signal reflection and loss .
Question 10: What does the term "genlock" refer to in video systems?
A. General electrical grounding
B. Synchronizing video equipment to a common reference
C. Encryption of video signals
D. Automatic color correction
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Synchronizing video equipment to a common reference
Rationale: Genlock, short for generator locking, ensures that multiple video sources stay
in sync by locking them to a master reference signal, preventing frame tearing and
switching glitches .
Question 11: Which type of camera lens distortion results in straight lines
appearing curved outward?
, A. Barrel distortion
B. Pincushion distortion
C. Chromatic aberration
D. Keystone distortion
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Barrel distortion
Rationale: Barrel distortion causes lines near the edges of an image to bow outward,
resembling the shape of a barrel. Pincushion distortion causes inward curvature .
Question 12: What is the typical frame rate for NTSC video?
A. 25 fps
B. 30 fps
C. 29.97 fps
D. 24 fps
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 29.97 fps
Rationale: NTSC uses 29.97 frames per second (approximately 30/1.001) to
accommodate color encoding without interfering with legacy black-and-white signals .
Question 13: In digital broadcasting, what does MPEG stand for?
A. Multimedia Programming Encoder Group
B. Multiple Phase Encoding Guide
C. Moving Picture Experts Group
D. Media Processing Engineering Guide
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Moving Picture Experts Group
Rationale: MPEG is a working group of experts that develops standards for compressing
and encoding digital video and audio. These standards are fundamental to digital
broadcasting .
Question 14: Which signal type is most susceptible to noise over long coaxial
runs?
A. Digital SDI
B. AES/EBU audio
C. Composite video
D. Fiber optic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Composite video
Rationale: Analog composite video is susceptible to signal degradation over long runs
due to attenuation and interference. Digital signals like SDI and AES/EBU have better
noise immunity .
Question 15: What is the primary purpose of a waveform monitor in a
broadcast facility?
SBE CBTE Certification Exam Study Guide & Exam
Prep 2026/2027 | Society of Broadcast Engineers,
Broadcast Television Engineering, TV RF Systems,
FCC Regulations, Television Theory, Digital
Television, RF Transmission, Video & Audio
Systems, Satellite & Microwave, Broadcast
Operations, Safety, Troubleshooting, Networking,
Practice Questions & Detailed Explanations
Question 1: What is the serial bit rate of standard-definition SDI as defined by
SMPTE 259M for 525/625-line component digital video?
A. 143 Mbps
B. 270 Mbps
C. 360 Mbps
D. 1.485 Gbps
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 270 Mbps
Rationale: SMPTE 259M defines the SD-SDI interface, and the most common rate
(Level C) for 4:2:2 component digital video (480i/576i) is 270 Mbps. This carries 10-bit
multiplexed Y/Cb/Cr samples over a 75-ohm coaxial cable with a BNC connector. The
143 Mbps rate is the composite NTSC variant .
Question 2: Which SMPTE standard defines the HD-SDI interface operating at
a nominal 1.485 Gbps?
A. SMPTE 259M
B. SMPTE 292M
C. SMPTE 424M
D. SMPTE 2022
CORRECT ANSWER: B. SMPTE 292M
Rationale: SMPTE 292M defines HD-SDI at 1.485 Gbps (and 1.485/1.001 Gbps for
NTSC-related 59.94/29.97/23.98 Hz frame rates). It carries 720p and 1080i HD signals
over a single coaxial link .
Question 3: What is the serial bit rate of 3G-SDI as defined by SMPTE 424M?
A. 1.485 Gbps
B. 5.940 Gbps
C. 2.970 Gbps
D. 11.88 Gbps
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 2.970 Gbps
,Rationale: SMPTE 424M (3G-SDI) operates at 2.970 Gbps, exactly double the HD-SDI
rate, and can carry 1080p60 over a single link. 6G-SDI and 12G-SDI extend to 5.94 and
11.88 Gbps for 4K/UHD .
Question 4: In the standard 4:2:2 component digital sampling structure, what
is the relationship between luminance and chrominance sampling?
A. Chroma is sampled at the same rate as luma
B. Chroma is not sampled at all
C. Chroma is sampled at one quarter the rate of luma
D. Chroma is sampled at half the horizontal rate of luma
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Chroma is sampled at half the horizontal rate of luma
Rationale: In 4:2:2 sampling, the two color-difference (chroma) channels Cb and Cr are
each sampled at half the horizontal frequency of the luminance (Y) channel, while
having full vertical resolution. For SD this means Y at 13.5 MHz and each chroma
channel at 6.75 MHz .
Question 5: What is the luminance sampling frequency used for standard-
definition component digital video per ITU-R BT.601?
A. 13.5 MHz
B. 6.75 MHz
C. 3.58 MHz
D. 27 MHz
CORRECT ANSWER: A. 13.5 MHz
Rationale: ITU-R BT.601 specifies a luminance sampling frequency of 13.5 MHz for SD
component digital video, common to both 525-line and 625-line systems. Each chroma
channel is sampled at half this rate, 6.75 MHz .
Question 6: What is the active picture resolution of the 1080i HD format?
A. 1280 x 720
B. 1920 x 1080
C. 1440 x 1080
D. 2048 x 1080
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 1920 x 1080
Rationale: The 1080i HD format has an active picture resolution of 1920 samples per
line and 1080 active lines. While 1280 x 720 is 720p and 2048 x 1080 is 2K DCI, 1920 x
1080 is the standard for broadcast HD .
Question 7: Which component is responsible for converting baseband video to
RF for transmission in a broadcast television system?
A. Modulator
B. Mixer
,C. RF Upconverter
D. Demodulator
CORRECT ANSWER: C. RF Upconverter
Rationale: An RF upconverter takes baseband video and modulates it onto a carrier
frequency for over-the-air transmission. This is a critical component in the transmitter
chain .
Question 8: What is the standard aspect ratio for high-definition television
(HDTV)?
A. 4:3
B. 1:1
C. 16:9
D. 21:9
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 16:9
Rationale: HDTV uses a 16:9 aspect ratio to provide a widescreen viewing experience,
which is a defining characteristic of high-definition formats .
Question 9: Which connector type is most commonly used for professional SDI
video connections?
A. BNC
B. RCA
C. BNC 75-ohm
D. XLR
CORRECT ANSWER: C. BNC 75-ohm
Rationale: 75-ohm BNC connectors are the standard for SDI video signals due to their
impedance matching and reliability, ensuring minimal signal reflection and loss .
Question 10: What does the term "genlock" refer to in video systems?
A. General electrical grounding
B. Synchronizing video equipment to a common reference
C. Encryption of video signals
D. Automatic color correction
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Synchronizing video equipment to a common reference
Rationale: Genlock, short for generator locking, ensures that multiple video sources stay
in sync by locking them to a master reference signal, preventing frame tearing and
switching glitches .
Question 11: Which type of camera lens distortion results in straight lines
appearing curved outward?
, A. Barrel distortion
B. Pincushion distortion
C. Chromatic aberration
D. Keystone distortion
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Barrel distortion
Rationale: Barrel distortion causes lines near the edges of an image to bow outward,
resembling the shape of a barrel. Pincushion distortion causes inward curvature .
Question 12: What is the typical frame rate for NTSC video?
A. 25 fps
B. 30 fps
C. 29.97 fps
D. 24 fps
CORRECT ANSWER: C. 29.97 fps
Rationale: NTSC uses 29.97 frames per second (approximately 30/1.001) to
accommodate color encoding without interfering with legacy black-and-white signals .
Question 13: In digital broadcasting, what does MPEG stand for?
A. Multimedia Programming Encoder Group
B. Multiple Phase Encoding Guide
C. Moving Picture Experts Group
D. Media Processing Engineering Guide
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Moving Picture Experts Group
Rationale: MPEG is a working group of experts that develops standards for compressing
and encoding digital video and audio. These standards are fundamental to digital
broadcasting .
Question 14: Which signal type is most susceptible to noise over long coaxial
runs?
A. Digital SDI
B. AES/EBU audio
C. Composite video
D. Fiber optic
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Composite video
Rationale: Analog composite video is susceptible to signal degradation over long runs
due to attenuation and interference. Digital signals like SDI and AES/EBU have better
noise immunity .
Question 15: What is the primary purpose of a waveform monitor in a
broadcast facility?
